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Oct. 31, 1933. Lf-B'; WINTONv 1,932,431

APPARATUS FOR FREEZING LIQUID OR SEMILIQUID SUBSTANCES' IN RECEPTACLS v Filed sept. 2,' '1952 4 shets-sneet 1 IVENTOR Y 1er L,

Oct. 31, 1933. A B. wlNToN 1,932,431 APPARATUS FOR FREEZING LIQUID OR SEMILIQUID SUBSTANCES IN RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 2.; 1932 4. Sheets-Sheet 2 mhwwnzw l m..------wwl:-:-----l u INVE NTOR L. B. Mnlz A'rroRNE L. B. wlN-'roN 1,932,431

APPARATUS FOR FREEZING LIQUID 0R SEMILIQUID SUBSTANCES IN RECEPTACLES ct. 3l, 1933.

Filed Sept. 2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 R B. L

'Ey/a o ATTORNEY L. B. WINTON Oct. 31, 1933.

1,932,431 APPAATUS FOR FREEZING LIQUID OR SEMILIQUID SUBSTANCES IN RECEPTACLES Filed Sept. 2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2N EN QN N/ Elm lNvENToR L B. vzzolz BY d 0 gf ATToRN Patented Oct. 3l, 1933 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE l1,932,431 APPARATUS FOR FREEZING LIQUID 0R SEMILIQUID TACLES SUBSTANCES IN RECEP- Application September 2, 1932. Serial No. 631,456

20 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, such as liquid or semi-liquid food products filled in pliable and weak receptacles of conical form consisting of a body constructed from a blank of paper shaped to tubular form and secured by a strip-adhesively applied to the longitudinal marginal portions of the blank, and having a iianged disk, to constitute the bottom of the receptacle, secured in the end of larger diameter of the receptable body by rolling the contiguous portions of the disk flange and end of the receptacle body together to form a seam, after which the receptacle is subjected to a paraiiine bath to apply a parafiine coating on the exterior and interior of the receptacle with a paraiiine llet filling the interstices and the joint between the bottom and receptacle body as well as the side securing strip. After the contents have been filled into the receptacle it is closed by collapsing or squeezing together opposite wall portions at the open end and sealed substantially liquid tight by a V-shaped closure' member engaged over and clamped to the collapsed receptacle and by longitudinally fiuting the closure member to interlock the material of the receptacle with the closure member.

It is the object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages of known methods of freezing when used in connection with filled and sealed receptacles of pliable and Weak material, such as paper, which methods will distort and rupture the receptacles exposing and permitting leakage of the contents of the receptacles, by providing an air space at the tops of the sealed receptacles and freezing the contents progressively upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the sides of the receptacles. l

It is another object of the invention to pro'- vde apparatus to freeze the contents of a maximum member of sealed containers within a minimum amount of time and utilizing a minimum amount of floor space.- v

It is a further object of the invention to provide a receptacle supporting means traveling within a cabinet of a structure whereby the receptacles are readily engaged thereon and released therefrom and which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a still further object of the invention to maintain-the freezing substance at a lower tem- 'perature Where the receptacles. are rst introduced therein to assur-e rapid freezing at the bottoms of the receptacles.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically receiving the receptacles from the freezing apparatus and cleanse the freezing substance fromlthe receptacles.

1n the embodiment of the invention there is provided a tank containing a freezing uid constantly supplied to flow in one direction from one end to the opposite end of the tank, said tank being supported and enclosed by a cabinet arranged to support a conveyer comprising a pair of endless chains with a section of the chains 65 traveling exteriorlyy of the cabinet and arranged with a series of clamping members for the releasable engagement and supporting of sealed receptacles and with which the receptacles are manually engaged exteriorly of the cabinet and transported by the conveyer to progressively engage the receptacles in and move the receptacles through the freezing uid in the tank in the direction of the flow of said fluid to freeze the contents of the receptacles when they are removed from the tank by the travel of the conveyer and brought into engagement with an abutment to release the receptacles from the supporting members and direct the released receptacles to chutes leading from the cabinet to a tray or shelf movably mounted exteriorly of 'the cabinet and periodically actuated to immerse receptacles delivered thereto in a cleansing liquid in a tank exteriorly of the cabinet, and transfer the cleansed receptacles from the cleansing Y liquid to a draining shelf, the receptacles beingv retained on the chutes within the cabinet until the immersing tray is in position to receive the receptacles therefrom, by a gate actuated in synchronism with the movement of the tray.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application Figure 1 is an elevational view looking at the end of the cabinet Where the receptacles are manually engaged on the receptacle supports of the conveyer.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the end of the cabinet opposite to that shown in Figure 1, where the receptacles are delivered from the cabinet and cleansed.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of 100 the cabinet, with an intermediate portion broken away to show both ends of the cabinet.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the progressive engagement of the receptacles in the freezing uid.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken onthe line 5 5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the delivery end of the cabinet showing the tank containing 1.0

the cleansing liquid, the receptacle receiving tray and the delivery control gate.

Figure 7 is a view looking at the top of a section oi al conveyer chain showing supporting rollers carried thereby.

Figure 8 is a view of the conveyer chain looking at the bottom of Figure A'7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the conveyer showing the mounting of a receptacle clamping and supporting member theron.

Figure 10 is a perspective View of a pivoted jaw of the receptacle clamping member shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the iixed jaw of the receptacle clamping member and showing in dotted lines the upper closed end of a receptacle in relation to said jaw.

Figure 12 is a View, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, of the receptacle clamping and supporting member showing a receptacle clamped between and supported by the jaws.

Figure 13 is a sectional view of the delivery end n of the cabinet showing receptacles engaging the abutment in the cabinet to release them from the supports and in dotted lines released receptacles retained within the cabinet by the gate.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 but showing the receptacles delivered from the cabinet onto the movable tray in full line position, and in dotted line position the tray and receptacles immersed in the cleansing liquid.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figures 13 and 14 but showing the receptacles removed from the cleansing liquid and transferred onto the draining shelf.

Figure 16 is a view of a cam, shown in Figures 13 to 15, inclusive, to actuate the receptacle receiving tray and the receptacle retaining gate.

Figure 1'? is a perspective view of the recep tacie receiving tray; and

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the receptacle draining shelf.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a cabinet 19 supported by standards 20 and braces 20', and having the walls thereof lined with heat insulating material, such as cork and sawdust or other suitable material, as at 21, to prevent the transference of the temperature of the atmosphere from within to the exterior of the cabinet and maintain a uniform temperature within the cabinet created by the presence of a freezing substance, such as brine, contained in a tank 22 supported by the bottom portion of the cabinet and encased in a hollow bed 23 of heat insulating material, such as cork, and also forming the insulating lining for the bottom of the cabinet, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The brine is forcedly delivered from a source of supply through a pipe 24 to one end of the tank by a suitable pump, not shown and drained from the tank by a pipe 25 at the opposite end, said pipe being extended into the tank to maintain the liquid at a predetermined level, whereby there will be a continuous ow of the brine from the inlet to the outlet end of the tank, surging-and splashing of the liquid being prevented by baiiies arranged at both ends of the tank, said plates being formed by extending the end walls of the tank in a horizontal plane along the top of the tank parallel with the bottom and the free edges bent downwardly to extend' into the tank, as at 26. The plate 26 at the inlet end of the tank is arranged with a filtering screen 27 of wire mesh xed at a mar- Yginal portion to the plate 26, and at the opposite side to the bottom of the tank. The plate 26 at the outlet end of the tank has a plate 28 adjustably mounted thereon by wing nuts engaged on bolts passed through slots in the plate 28 and xed in the plate 26, as at 29, to variably extend the plate 28 into the brine in the tank.

A plurality of lled and sealed receptacles-R are progressively engaged into and passed thorugh the brine in the tank in the direction of the flow of the brine and with the bottom lowermost by an endless conveyer comprising a pair of chains 30 passing around and supported by two pairs of sprocket wheels 31, 37, wheels 31 being fixed on a shaft 32 rotatably supported at the ends in bearings 33 carried by brackets 34 xed to and extended exteriorly from the end of the cabinet, the cabinet having juxtaposed openings 35, 36 to permit of the passage of the upper and lower' stretches of the chains to and from said sprocket wheels 3l. The sprocket wheels 37 are fixed on a shaft 38 rotatably supported in bearings on the side walls of the cabinet to extend transversely of and within the cabinet adjacent the end wall of the cabinet opposite the openings 35, 36.

The receptacles are supported by the conveyer to be transported thereby by arranging the conveyer chains with a series of rows of receptacle clamping and supporting members comprising a fixed jaw 41 of va width substantially the length of the luted closure member C of the receptacles having a rib 42 extending longitudinally thereof for engagement of the longitudinal flute of the receptacle closure member, as clearly shown in Figure 12, said xed jaw having a shank extended from one side and midway the ends of the jaw embodying two flat portions at the opposite ends extending at a right angle to each other, as at 43, 44, with the portion 43 adjacent the jaw portion and the portion 44 having the free end extended at a right angle, as at 45, to engage about right angle bars 46 fixed at the opposite ends to brackets 47 interposed between links 39 of the conveyer chains and constituting links of the chains, in the present instance the brackets being juxtaposed between every third link, as shown in Figures 'l to 9, inclusive, whereby the bars extend between the chains and are equidistantly spaced from each other. The jaws 41 are xed to the bars 46 by bolts passed through alined openings in the shank portions 44 and an angle portion of the bars, as at 48, and the bars 46 are attached to theI brackets 47 by screws passed through perforations in the angle portion of the bars opposite to the angle portion to which the jaws are 'xed and threaded into ears of the brackets, as at 49 in Figure 9. The other jaw 50 of the receptacle clamping and supporting members is of greater length than width, in the form of a finger, pivotally mounted intermediate the ends between a pair of ears 51 extending integrally from the shank portion 43 adjacent the jaw 41 by a pin extended through perforations in the jaw 50 and ears 51, as at 52 in Figures 9 and 12. To clamp and maintain the longitudinal ute of the closure member in, engagement with the rib 42 of the xed jaw 41, the pivoted jaw 50 is arranged with an arcuate recess or indentation 53 in opposed relation to rib 42 of the fixed jaw. The jaw 50 is yieldingly urged to engage the recess 53 with the convex side of the flute of the closure member by a spring 54 coiled about a protuberance 55 extended laterally from the jaw 50 adjacent the end thereof oppositey to the end arranged with the recess 53 with the spring engaging a recess 56 in the opposed face of the shank 43 of the xed jaw, as clearly shown in Figure 12, whereby \wheels 31 and guide gressively and gradually -transverse center of the sealed ends of receptacles are securely retained between the clamping jaws 41, 50. In the present instance, there are thirte'en (13) receptacle clamping and supporting members arranged on each bar 46. .o

vThe conveyer chains 30 are continuously actuated to travel` in the direction of the ow of the brine from a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor (not shown) connected to shaft 38 by a belt passed over Ca pulley 57 fixed on an end of the shaft 38 extending` exteriorly of the cabinet, as shown in Figure 2. To facilitate engaging sealed receptacles with all of the supporting members during the continuous travel of the conveyer the ends of the jaws 41 and 50 adjacent the rib 42 and recess 53 are arranged with oppositely curved arcuate faces forming a flaring entrance to said rib and recess, as at 58, the sealed receptacle ends being properly positioned between the jaws by engaginglthe ends of the closure member against angular abutments 59, formed by wall portions vprojecting inwardly from the corlners of the jaw 41 and perpendicularly to the clamping face thereof, as clearly shown in Figure il.

yThe conveyer chains are supported and guided to 4travel in a predetermined sinuous path. T0 cause the receptacles to progressivelyengage into and be passed through the brine in the tank 22 the lower stretch of the chains 30 travel in the direction of flow of the brine and is supported and guided to progressively engage the receptacles in the brine, then .through the brine for a predetermined length of travel of the conveyer and then out of the brine, by pairs of rails in the form of angle bars 60, 61` secured at one angle portion to supporting members 62 mounted on the side walls of the cabinet with theother angle portions of the bars extending in opposed and spaced relation to each other for the slidable engagement therebetween of rollers 63 rotatably mounted on spindles 64 xed in and extended from the` outer sides ofY the brackets 47, as shown in Figure 9, the upper rails maintaining the rollers in engagement with the lower rails and guiding the conveyer chains in a predetermined path. The lower rails 61 extend through the opening 36 in the end wall of the cabinet for engagement and supporting' of the rollers 63. as they leave the the conveyer chains in a horizontal plane through the opening and into the cabinet, as at A, to a point approximately in alinement with the inlet end of the tank 22 where both pairs of rails 60,' 61 advance at angle toward the mank, as at B, with the rceptacles inclining at an angle to the vertical axis, and` said angle of descent of the conveyer chains prodecreasing from a point where the bottoms of the receptacles engage the v brine, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, to a point approximately midway of the ends of the tank, as at D in Figure 4, when the receptacles brine to an extent above the the receptacles but below the level of the contents in the receptacles, so that there is a transference of the latent .heat of are engaged in the the'contents of the receptacles and a freezing,

progressively upward from the bottoms and inwardly from the sides of the receptacles, first forming a frozen shell at the bottoms and about the junctures ofthe bottoms with the. bodies of the receptacles, and then continuing and pro.- gressively freezing the contents-upward from, the frozen bottom portions and inward from the sides of the receptacles sprocket-,Lveyer 30. To assure the ready delivery a rather sharp toward the air spaces at 'the brine is permitted'to drain from the receptacles onto a drain board 65 supported at the opposite ends in a declining position from a cross member 66 extended transversely of and secured to the cabinet with the board projecting to a point slightly beyond the baflle plate 26, as clearly shown in Figure 3. l

The receptacles having the contents thereof frozen are automatically releasedcfrom the holders and delivered from the cabiriet by an abutment in the form of abar 67 xed to the end wall of the cabinet opposite to the end wall having the openings 35, 36, and extended transversely of the cabinet and adapted for engagement by the lower portions of the receptacles as they are transportedby the conveyer and commence to travel in an arcuate path about the sprocket wheels 37, as shown in Figures 3 and 13, which engagement by the continuous travel of the conveyer will forcibly and progressively release the closure member C longitudinally of and from the clamping jaws, said releasing force being compensated by the springs 54. Each released receptacle is delivered to one of a series of chutes formed by a sheet of material 68 fixed at the opposite sides to the side walls of the cabinet and extended in an arcuate downward direction from ,the cross member 66 thr/Bugh an opening V69 in the adjacent end wall of the cabinet extending transversely thereof, with partition walls 70 fixed to and projected vertically from the upper concave face of the sheet 68in equidistantly spaced relation to each other and the spaces therebetween inalinement with the receptacle supporting and clamping members 41, 50 on the bars 46, there being thirteen separate spaces or chutes in the present instance fcorresponding to the number of receptacles carried in a row by the con- I of the receptacles from the cabinet and prevent the colliding of the receptacles upon the relase of the same from the clamping members, th upper ends of the walls 70 are extended above the drain board 65 and the abutment 67 in interposed relation to the receptacles before they are released by the abutment from the clamping members, as clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, 13, 14 and 15.

The Alength of travel of the receptacles along the lower stretch portions F and G of the conveyer chains is not sufcient to completely drain# fthe brine from the receptacles having the frozen contents and particles of the brine will have a tendency to adhere to the exterior surface of the vreceptacles not only rendering'the receptacles unsightly but may also be deleterious to the receptacles. To readily remove the brine from the receptacles, the `receptacles are l automatically immersed ina cleansing liquid, suchY as w'ater, upon the delivery of the receptacles from the cabinet, by providing a tank 71 to contain 'the cleansing material, said tank being mounted on a supporting frame72 suspended between the end ofthe cabinet having the discharge opening 69, as at 73 in Figures 3, 13, 14 and 1.5 and a pairof standards 74. A continuous iiow of water is delivered to one side of the tank 71 by a pipe 75 leading from a source of supplynthe ow of the water into the tank through the supply pipe 75 being controlled by a suitable valve 76. To drain the water from the tank there is provided a pipe .'77 connected to the side wall of the tank opposite to the side to which the supply pipe 75 is con' tank at a pointrabove a predetermined level of the water in the'stank and with the drain pipe 77 beyond the valve 78, as shown in Figure 2. To facilitate the cleaning of sediment from the tank 71, it is provided with a drain outlet in the bottom thereof controlled by a valve and having a sediment chamber, as shown at 100.

'I'he receptacles as they leave the chutes 68, 70 engage on a tray or shelf movable into and out of the tank .71 and normally positioned in line with the delivery end of the chutes, said tray comprising a pair of rods xed at thev opposite ends in spaced relation to each other to triangular plates 8l with each rod adjacent a base angle of the plates, the receptacle supporting surface of the tray being provided by a plurality of bars 82 iixed at the opposite ends to the rods 80 as by bending the ends of the bars about the roos, as clearly shown in Figure 17. The tray is pivotally supported to have movement into and out of the tank by a pair of arms 83 having a boss 84 at one end engaged on the opposite ends of a shaft 85 rotatably mounted in brackets 86 secured to the standards 74 of the tank supporting frame 72, the opposite ends of the arms 83 having opposed ears 87 extending in an oblique drection from the arms and attached to the free end of a leg of U shaped brackets 88 exteriorly of the tank 71, the other leg of said brackets extending over the .end walls of the tank and secured lto the plates 81 extending along the vertical axes from the vertex angles, as shown in Figure 17, so that the receptacle supporting tray bars 82 will decline in a direction from the cabinet, Figures 13 to 15. The arms 83 are supported intermediate lthe ends thereof and reciprocated from a shaft 89 rotatably mounted at the opposite ends in brackets 90 xed to the end wall of the cabinet 19, the arms 83 being supported from shaft '89 by a pair of levers 91 fixed at one end on shaft 89 and the opposite ends having a link. connection 93 with the arms 83. The tray 80, 82 is periodically actuated to a series of successive predetermined positions from initial position H in Figures 13 and 14, in alinement with the chute portion 68 to receive the receptacles released `from the receptacle supporting members 41, 50, then to position I, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 14, when the receptacles are fully immersed in the water in the tank, and then to position J shown in Figure 15, in a higher plane than position H, to deliver the receptacles from the tray onto a drain board or shelf shown as comprising a pair of rods 95 and a series'of bars 96 fixed at one end to one of the rods 95 as by bending the ends of the'bars 96 about the rod 95, as shown in Figure 18, with the opposite ends of the bars bent over the other rod 95 to extend in an arcuate downward direction, as at 97, for engagement of the bottoms of the receptacles supported on the tray bars 82 and retain the receptacles onl said bars in the positions H and I. In position J the tray bars 82 extend in a plane above the bars 96 of the drain board whereby the receptacles will slide from the tray, due to the angle of inclinationof the tray bars 82, onto the bars 96, as shown in Figure 15.

The drain board is removably mounted in the cleansing tank 71 to permit of ready removal and cleaning of the same by engaging the opposite ends of-the rods 95 in a pair of arcuate supports 98 xed to the end walls of the tank 71"in diierent horizontal planes so that the bars 96 will extend at an angle inclining toward the cabinet, as shown in Figures 3, 13, 14 and l5, and

the receptacles delivered from the tray 82 will extend the full length of the bars 96 with the receptacle bottoms engaging a resilient bumper 99 formed of tubular rubber mounted on the tank 71.

The tray 80, 82 is actuated to positions H, I and J in timed sequence with the travel of the receptacles through the cabinet 19 and tank 22 by actuating the tray from the movement of the conveyer chains 30 through the rotation of a` cam disc 101 rotatably mounted on a spindle 102 fixed in and extending exteriorly from a side wall of the cabinet and rotated from shaft 38 of the conevyer chain sprocket wheels 37 by a gear 103 xed on an end of said shaft 38 projecting beyond the wall of the cabinet meshing with a pinion 104 fixed on the hub of and rotatable with the cam 101. The cam 101 is of predetermined vshape to impart the desired movements to the tray 80, 82, and maintain said tray in the positions H, I, J, for predetermined periods of time. The shaft 89 is rocked and thereby the tray 8U, 82 actuated by a roller 106 rotatably carried at on'e end of an arm 108 fixed at the opposite end on an end of the shaft 89 projecting beyond the bracket 90, whereby through the rotation ofl the cam disk movement is imparted to the tray through 'the shaft 89, levers 91, links 93 and arms 83, the tray being actuated to and maintained in position' H while roller 106 rides along, an elongated portion 105 of the cam, until the receptacles are deposited on the tray from chute 68 when roller 106 will ride along an arcuate indented section 110 of the cam disk permitting movement of the levers 91 in a downward direction by the weight of the tray and connected parts and actuation of the tray to position I, as clearly shown in Figure 14. From position I the tray is raised to position J by the roller 106 riding on a high portion 111 of the camkdisc whereby the tray is raised to its highest position, as shown in Figure 15. The cam disk is rotated through a complete revolution before another row of receptacles have been released from the receptacle clamping and supporting members to actuate the tray to position H to receive the next succeeding row of receptacles delivered from the conveyer.

Should the actuation of the tray be placed outl o1' synchronism with the travel of the conveyer chains 30 and the tray is not in position H when the receptacles are released and delivered from the cabinet, the released receptacles are prevented from entering the cleansing tank 71 by a' ient bumper 114 in the form of a length of rub-` ber tubing carried on the interior face of the gate for engagement of the bottoms of the reis pivotally yceptacles positioned on the lower portion of the position when the tray is in position I-I. The gate Y normally moves to closing position by gravity and actuation of the gate to open position is effected by a lever having a boss 115 pivotally engaged on a pin 116 fixed inI and extended laterally from the side wall of the cabinet. One arm 117 of the `lever is juxtaposed to the cam disk 101 to be engaged by a pin 118 fixed in and i extended laterally from said disk when the tray 80, 82 is in position I-I, as shown in Figures 13 and V14:, whereby the other arm 119 of the lever will be actuated in an upward direction and impart opening movement to the gate 112 through Aa link 120 pivotally mounted at one end on a pin 121 fixed in and extended laterally from the free end of the lever arm 119 and the other end of the link being pivotally connected to a laterally exf tending portion 122 of a bracket xed on the gate 112, as shown in Figure 6.

After the receptacles have been deposited on the drain board 96 and left thereon a sufcient time to permit draining of the'cleansing liquid, they are manually packed in shipping. cartons or boxes, not shown, adapted to be supported by a shelf 123, one side portion of the shelf being arranged with a hook, shaped portion 125 to be engaged lover the side wall of the tank 71 to support the shelf from one side, and the shelf being supported at the outer side from the tanksupporting frame '72 by brackets 126 fixed at one end to the frame and at the opposite ends to the bottom of the shelf, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, inclusive. The cartons packed with re- 1 ceptacles having frozen contents are stored at a temperature to prevent thawing of the contents and in such condition may be distributed to the ultimate consumerof the product.

After the receptacles have 'been released from the clamping and supporting members 41, 50, said members travel with' the conveyer chains about the sprocket wheels 37 and in a direction toward the end wall of thecabinet 19 having the openings 35, 36, the upper stretch of the conveyer chains being supported and. guided by the rollers 63 engaging an angle portion of angle bars 127` fixed at the other angle portion to supporting members 128 secured to the side walls of the cabin'et, the bars 12'7 extending from sprocket wheels 37 to the opening 35, where the chains 30 are led to the sprocket wheels 31 to position the receptacle clamping members for engagement therewith of the receptacles having the contents to be frozen. The opening 35 is arranged with a series of equidistantly spaced rectangular -portions 129 projecting from the upper side o'f said opening to form spacedrecesses 130"of a size to vpermit passage of the receptacle clamping and supporting members 4.1, 50, as shown in Figure 1, and prevent the dissipation of the temperature within the cabinet.

Having thus described my invention, I claim.: 1. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, a tank containing a freezing substance, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, and an endless conveyer having means to releasably engage and suspend sealed receptacles, and means mounted in the cabinet to guide a stretch of the conveyer to travel in differ-` ent planes lto progrssively engage the receptacles suspended from said conveyer stretch into and through the freezing substance in the tank to freeze the contents of the receptacles progressively upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the sides of the receptacles and move the receptacles out of the tank.

2. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, a tank containing a freezing substance, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, an endless conveyer having means to releasably engage and suspend sealed receptacles therefrom mounted to travel into the cabinet, and

means supported by the cabinet to engage and guide the lower stretch of the conveyer in the travel thereof through the cabinet to progressively engage the receptacles suspended from said conveyer stretch into and through the freezing substance in the tank to freeze the contents of the receptacles progressively upwardly from the bottom and in inwardly from the sides of the receptacles and move the receptacles out of the tank.

3. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, a tank containing afreezing uid, means for supplying and causing the freezing fluid to flow in one directionfrom one end of the opposite end of the tank, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, an endless conveyer having means to releasably support and suspend sealed receptacles and the lower stretch adapted to travel into the cabinet in the direction of ow of the freezing uid in the tank, and rails fixed to the side walls of the cabinetjo engage and support the conveyer and guide the lower stretch thereof to progressively engage the sealed receptacles suspended from said conveyer stretch into and through the freezing fluid in the tank to freeze the contents of the receptacles progressively upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the sides of the receptacles and move the receptacles out of the tank, and varying the degree of the freezingprogressively and proportionally toithe travel of the receptacles in the freezing fluid.

4.- Apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet is lined with and the tank encased in heat insulating material.

5. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, a tank containing a freezing suhstance, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, an endless conveyer having meansy to releasably carry the sealed receptacles and mounted to travel -into the cabinet with one stretch thereofA adapted to progressively engage the receptacle's carried by said stretch into and. move the sainevthrough the freezingsubstance in.- the tank to freeze the contents of the receptacles progressively upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the sides thereof and move the receptacles out of the tank, a tank for containing a cleansing liquid mounted exteriorly of the cabinet, means arranged in the cabinet to release the receptacles from the receptacle carrying means of the conveyer after lthe receptacles are moved out of the freezing tank, and means to receive the receptacles released fromK the conveyer and deliver said receptacles from the cabinet to the j ed to have movement into and out of the cleans-- ing tank adapted to receive receptacles delivered from the cabinet, immerse said receptacles in the cleansing liquid and remove the receptacles from said liquid.

7. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles as claimed in claim 5, means mounted to have movement into and out of the cleansing tank and actuated in sequence with the travel of the conveyer to positions to receive receptacles delivered from the cabinet, immerse them in the cleansing liquid and remove them from said liquid, and means actuated by the travel of the conveyer for engagement of the receptacles released from the receptacle carriers of the conveyer and prevent the delivery of the receptacles from the cabinet when the receptacle immersing means is not in receptacle receiving position and operative when the immersing means is in receptacle receiving position to permit delivery of the receptacles to the immersing means.

8. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles as claimed in claim 5, means supported within the iank'containing the cleansing liquid, and means mounted to have movement into and out of said latter tank adapted to receive receptacles delivered from the cabinet with the receptacles abutting a portion of the means supported within the tank, immerse said receptacles in the cleansing liquid and remove them from said liquid out of engagement with the means supported within the tank and permit of movement of the receptacles from the receptacle receiving means to said means supported within the tank and said latter means support the receptacles to drain the cleansing liquid from the receptacles. l

9. In apparatus for freezing the contents of conical receptacles of pliant material having the mouth at the smaller end closed by a closure member longitudinally uted to seal the closure member 'to the receptacles, a tank containing a freezing substance, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, an endless traveling conveyer mounted to travel into the cabinet with the stretches in superposed relation to each other, and a series of clamping members carried by the conveyer adapted for engagement of and to sus# pend the receptacles from the closure members,

the lower stretch of the conveyer being guided to engage receptacles suspended by the clamping members into and out of the freezing substance in the tank during the travel of the conveyer relative to the tank.

10. In apparatus for freezing the contents of conical receptacles of pliant material having the mouth at the smaller end closed by a closure member longitudinally fluted to seal the closure member to the receptacles, a tank containing a freezing substance, a cabinet arrangedto support and enclose the tank, an endless traveling conveyer mounted totravel into the cabinet with the stretches in superposed relation to each other, and a series of clamping members carried by the conveyer adapted for engagement of and to suspend the receptacles` from the closure members, the lower stretch of the conveyer being guided to engage receptacles 'suspended by the clamping members into and out of the freezing substance in the tank during the travel of the conveyer relative to the tank, and said clamping members comprising a jaw xedly mounted on the conveyer having a'longitudinal rib corresponding to the flute of the closure member and a second jaw pivceptacle between the jaws with the longitudinal rib of the fixed jaw and the recess of the pivoted jaw engaging the flute of the closure member and support the receptacles suspended from the clamping members.

l1. Apparatus for freezing the contents of conical receptacles as claimed in claim 10, wherein the xed jaw of the clamping members is of a Width substantially equal to the width of the c10- sure member of the receptacles and arranged with angular abutments at the sides thereof for engagement of the ends of the closure member to i facilitate the positioning of the receptacles between the jaws.

l2. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, a tank for containing a freezing substance, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, and an endless conveyer arranged to releasably support and transport the sealed receptacles suspended from one end, and said conveyer guided in its travel into the cabinet to engage the vreceptacles suspended therefrom into the freezing substance to freeze the contents of the receptacles progressively upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the sides of the receptacles, said conveyer comprising a pair of endless chains supported and passing around a pair of sprocket wheels supported exteriorly of one end of the cabinet and a pair of sprocket wheels supported within the cabinet at the opposite end thereof, equi-distantly spaced bars fixed at the opposite ends tothe chains, and a series of clamping members mounted on each bar adapted to releasably engage and support the receptacles, the receptacles being engaged with said clamping members exteriorly of the cabinet.

13. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles as claimedgin claim 12, a pair ofy opposed rails mounted on the opposite sides oi the cabinet with the opposite end sections of the rails extending progressively toward and away from the tank containingv the freezing substance and the intermediate sections extending parallel to the tank, and rollers carried by the chains to engage between the opposed rails to support and guide the chains relative to the tank.

14. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles as claimed in claim 12, pairs of superposed rails mounted on the opposite sides of the cabinet between the sprocket wheels, the upper pair of rails being extended in an even plane adjacent the top of the cabinet and the opposite end portions of the lower pair of rails extended progressively toward and away from the tank containing the freezing substance and the intermediate portions of the lower rails extending parallel to the tank, and rollers carried by the chains to engage the rails to support and guide the chains in a circuitous path within the cabinet and progressively engage the receptacles suspended thereyfrom into the freezing substance.

15. In apparatus forfreezing the contents sealed in receptacles, a tank containing a freezing fluid, means to cause the ow of freezing fluid from one end to the opposite end of the tank, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, a'conveyer having means to releasably support and suspend the receptacles therefrom and mounted to travel into the cabinet in the direction of flow of the freezing fluid in the tank and during the travel thereof progressively engage the receptacles in the freezing fluid to freeze the contents of the receptacles progressively upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the sides of the receptacles and remove the receptacles from the tank, an

abutment extending transversely of the conveyer travel adjacent the end of the tank toward which the freezing fluid flows for engagement `and releasing of the receptacles from the receptacle supporting means of the conveyer, a chute extended downwardly from ladjacent th abutment to an opening in the cabinet to receive the released receptacles and deliver them to the cabinet opening, and a tank containing cleansing liquid exteriorly of the cabinet below the casing opening to receive the receptacles delivered by the chute.

16. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles, a tank containing a freezing substance, a cabinet arranged to support and enclose the tank, a conveyer having means to releasably support and suspend sealed receptacles from one end and mounted to travel into the cabinet and engage receptacles suspended therefrom in the freezing substance in the tank to freeze the contents of the receptacles progressively upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the sides of the receptacles and remove the receptacles from the tank, means xed at an end of the cabinet and extending transversely of the conveyer travel to engage and release the receptacles from the receptacle supporting means of the conveyer after the receptacles leave the tank, a tank containing a cleansing liquid exteriorly of the cabinet, a tray pivotally mounted exteriorly of the cleansing liquid containing tank and arranged to have movement into and out of said tank, means operatively connected to the tray and actuated by the movement of the conveyer .to periodically actuate the tray to dierent predetermined positions out of and into the cleansing liquid, and means supported within the cabinet adjacent lthe receptacle releasing means for engagement and delivery of the receptacles released from the conveyer to the pivoted tray when actuated to position out of the cleansing liquid prior to the immersing of the tray into the cleansing liquid' to remove freezing substance adhering to the receptacles.

17. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles as claimed in claim 16, a shelf supported in the cleansing liquid containing tank to extend transversely thereof, and comprising a pair of spaced rods supported at the opposite ends from the sides of the tank and bars fixed at one end toa rod and extended over the other Arod in an arcuate downward direction for engagement of receptacles on the pivoted tray in the receptacle receiving and immersing positions of said tray, and the other adjusted position of the pivoted tray being out of the liquid with the receptacles out of engagement with the shelf /bars to permit the receptacles to slide from the tray to the shelf and drain thecleansing liquid from the receptacles.

18. Apparatus for freezing the contents of receptacles as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for actuating ie pivoted tray comprises a shaft rotatably mounted on .the exteriorend wall of the cabinet, levers iixedly carried by the shaft and pivotally connected to the tray, a cam rotatably supported by the cabinet and operatively connected to the conveyer to be actuated, by the travel of the conveyer, and an arm fixed on the shaft carrying a roller to follow thecam to impart tray actuating movement to the shaft. 19. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for delivering the receptacles from the cabinet to the tray passes through an opening in the end wall of the cabinet, and the means for actuating the tray comprises a shaft rotatably mounted on the exterior of he cabinet, levers fixed on the shaft and pivotall connected at the opposite ends to the tray, a rotatable cam actuated by the travel of the conveyer, a lever fixed on the shaft carrying a roller to follow the cam to impart tray actuating movement to the shaft, a gate normally closing the cabinet opening through which the receptacles are delivered to the tray, a lever having one arm connected to the gate and the other arm extended juxtaposed to the cam, and a pin fixed in and projecting from the cam to engage the juxtaposed lever arm and actuate the lever to move the gate to open position and permit passage of the receptacles released from the conveyer when the tray is in receptacle receiving position.

20. In apparatus for freezing the contents sealed in receptacles having a conical body closed at the smaller end by collapsing and sealing said end with a closure member, aftank containing a freezing fluid, a cabinet arrangedto support and enclose the tank and having juxtaposed openings in an end wall thereof, an endless conveyer arranged with means to releasably engage the closure member of and suspend the receptacles therefrom, said conveyer being mounted with the stretches thereof passing through the juxtaposed openings into and out of the cabinet, and means for engagement of the conveyer and guide one stretch of the conveyer progressively in a downward direction toward the tank to engage the receptacles suspended from the,con veyer in the freezing fluid in the tank with the receptacles entering the uid at an angle to the axis thereof to progressively freeze the contents of the receptacles.

, LEWIS B. WINTON. 

